"Let's get the show started. There's a flock of geese in the distance," I hollered to my hunting partners. Instantly, the four of us started waving our flags and honking loudly on our goose calls with the intention of catching the attention of the distant geese. After a minute or so, we high-jacked the geese and caused them to change their flight path.

Even though the birds had started to veer toward us, we continued with our aggressive flagging and calling. In short order, the deal was sealed. The flock of geese was locked in on us and rapidly approaching. At that point, we quit flagging, but continued calling. The geese kept coming. Before long, they were on the outer edge of the right side of our spread and checking things out. Within seconds, the geese quickly flew past our spread and started hooking around for another look.

As they did so, I quickly lifted my flag and started to "stair-step" it downward to represent a landing goose. This action caused the geese to cut hard and in short order, they were headed for the open landing zone within the decoys. Moments later, we popped up from our blinds and interrupted the landing process.

In similar fashion to an air traffic controller communicating to incoming flights, I can and do communicate with airborne ducks and geese with the intentions of coaxing them into my landing zones. While airports and air traffic controllers use a series of radar, GPS co-ordinates, radio communication, flashing lights and smooth runways, I rely on scouting, calls, flags, decoy spreads and the strategy of adequate decoy spreads with open/obvious landing zones.

The vast majority of my field hunting takes place in the mornings, with afternoon scouting sessions. Hunting the X is my favorite method of field hunting. By taking the time to scout and pattern the birds, I can determine when and where the "scheduled flights" are arriving and be set up and waiting in the exact spot to welcome the flights as they arrive.

However, there are times when I can't secure permission to hunt the X or someone else has obtained permission to hunt there prior to me asking. When these situations arise, it's time to run traffic, take control of the birds flight patterns and work some "unscheduled flights" towards my landing zones.

Scheduled Flights
When hunting the X, I try to duplicate exactly what was observed during late afternoon scouting sessions. For starters, I always try to pinpoint the exact location where the birds were feeding. To determine the last and exact spot in the field where they were feeding before heading back to the roost, I'll find a vantage point and watch the feeding birds until dark.

While watching the feeding birds, I'll look for obvious landmarks that can be used to assist me in finding that exact spot when it's time to hunt. Implements, rocks piles and sloughs within the field work well. Large distinct objects such as barns, silos or clumps of brush that will easily show up in my headlights the next morning. When possible, I try to locate multiple items, so that I can triangulate the exact spot.

On other occasions, I'll count and keep track of fence posts, hilltops or swathes so that I'm able to quickly get to my spot under the cover of darkness. If there's ever any doubt about not being able to find the X the next morning I'll head into the field once the birds have left for the evening and set up some flagging to help guide me back to the right spot.